Wire-stretcher



S. W. JOHNSON.

WIRE STRETOHER.

(Model) Patented Oct. 18,1881;

am y INVENTOR 2% WITNESSES w r X M BY a e,-

ATTORNEYS.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPENCER W. JOHNSON,'OF LATHROP, MISSOURI.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 248,472, dated October 18, 1881. Application filed August 22, 1881. (ModeL) 'To all whom it may concern The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive wire-clamp by means of which the wires of wire fences may be conveniently stretched, and a clamp having such construction that it will not cut, bend short, or otherwise injure the wires to which it is attached, as is the case with devices for this purpose in common use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved wire-clam p. Fig. 2 is a section of the same, taken on the line an at of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a face view of the plates.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

Inthedrawings,AandArepresenttheplates of mynew wire-clamp, which plates are hinged together at a, and are adapted to be clamped together for holding the wire firmly between their faces by the clam p-screw B, which passes through the opening I) in the plate A and enters the screw-opening b in the plate A, as shown in Fig. 2. The face of the plate A is formed with the shallow grooves c c, and the plate A is formed with the corresponding grooves 0 0, in which the wires are placed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These groove are not made in a direct line across the faces of the plates, but are enlarged or rounded near the edges of the plates, to form the curved shoulders e e and 0'6 and ee,over oragainst which the wire to be stretched is drawn.

The plate A is longer than the plate A, as shown at (Z, and this extended portion d is formed with the openingf, in which is placed the ring D, upon which is swiveled the large ring E.

In use, if barbed wire is to be stretched, the

wire is to be clamped in the grooves nearest the hinge of the plates, and the wire should be placed in the said grooves so that the rounded shoulders e e of the plates shall be in the direction opposite that of the draft, so that the wire will be drawn over the said rounded shoulders, and thus prevented from being cut or injuriously bent. When plain wire is to be stretched the strand should be placed in the grooves c 0, so that when power to stretch the wire is applied to the ring E the strand will be drawn over the curved shoulders c e, and thus prevent the strand from beinginjured.

The plates are of sufficient width so that the Wire may be securely clamped and held between them without any corrugations, teeth, or similar means. and hence the wires are neither cut, bent short, nor abraded or in any mannerinjured. With this clamp either horse, hand, or lever power may be employed for stretching the wire. If a lever is used, the lever can be placed through the ring E and the short arm placed against a fence-post or other stationary object. In this manner the work of stretching the wire is very easily and quickly done.

Having thus desci ibed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten t 1. Thecombination, withtheclampingscrew B, of the plates A A, hinged together at their lower ends, and provided with transverse grooves on their faces, whereby the wires are adapted to be clamped between thesaid plates, substantially as herein shown and described. 2. The plate A and the plate A,formcd with correspondinggrooves, which are rounded near the edge of the plates, in combination with the screw B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. SPENCER WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

W. H. BOHART, J. R. POPE. 

